The quirkiest ways to spend your day indoors in San Francisco

November 29, 2018 4:00 AM

Leatherworking, knitting, home brewing, sewing, woodworking, chocolate making and even "water marbling" — this "DIY with attitude" instruction space can teach you to do just about any craft worth learning. The Workshop, headquartered in NoPa (with satellite classes around the city) generally has at least one class scheduled every day, with up to five or six on Saturdays. Prices vary based on the materials and time — see the schedule here.

Being indoors doesn't mean you're relegated to being sedentary, and in San Francisco there are a bunch of clever ways to break a sweat indoors. For the more conventional, there's always the gym or rock climbing (San Francisco has several rock gyms). But for the quirkier bunch there's the House of Air, a family-friendly room of trampolines. Workout sessions are not too expensive — they run $22 per person — though are sometimes hard to reserve same day.

Anyone who ever thought about running away to the circus as a kid can somewhat fulfill those hopes and dreams in San Francisco, thanks to Circus Center, "a circus training and performing arts center" that teaches uncoordinated newbies the basics of acrobatics, juggling, contorting and yep — even clowning. Drop-in offers for flexibility and "aerial conditioning" at the Inner Sunset space are available daily for roughly the same price as a yoga class.

Okay, it's true that given its massive Instagram popularity, the downtown Museum of Ice Cream isn't the quirkiest way to spend a rainy day in the city. But it's hard to pass up the opportunity to wade in a sprinkle pool and nosh on frozen sweets. Better yet — since the museum is now a permanent fixture in the city, it's easier than ever to swoop same-day tickets for a walk-through of the sugar-coated exhibits.

It might seem that the Exploratorium particularly exists for kids — and in many ways it does — but as someone probably says somewhere, the wonder of science is ageless. The interactive museum at Pier 15 on the Embarcadero allows visitors to put their day to good use, learning about the environment, color perception, natural disasters, gravity, deep sea exploration, and much more.

Despite the many San Francisco breweries in operation, there aren't many open to tour groups. And there are none that are as old as Anchor Brewing. The brewhouse in Potrero Hill offers daily 90-minute tours to the public for $25, and 21-and-up guests can get an inside look at the ins and outs of the brewery's historic brewing process.

The Herb Caen line, "Any city that doesn't have a Tenderloin isn't a city at all," works as the tagline for the city's Tenderloin Museum, a monument and archive of the San Francisco's most misunderstood neighborhood." The place pays homage to former famous residents and businesses that helped shape the artistic and cultural aspects of the city, like Barbary Coast-era vice, the early days of LGBTQ+ activism, and the neighborhood's jazz clubs frequented by greats like Billie Holiday, Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk.

Disneyland is rather far away on any given day, but the Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio is a fitting alternative for anyone not willing to make the five-hour trek to Anaheim. The museum is an ode to Disney's personal life, career and early creations, and features stories, photos, and exhibits celebrating the film and theme park mastermind.

Truly one of San Francisco's most interesting (or more frightening, depending on your disposition regarding Laffing Sal) destinations, the Musée Mécanique near Fisherman's Wharf puts on display dozens of old-timey and vintage arcade games, attractions and player pianos for anyone who stops by. Admission is free, and games inside cost as little as one cent to play.

If the games of Musée Mécanique are a little too dated, there's always those barcades geared to the Millennial and Gen X crowds, like Coin-Op (SoMa) and Emporium (Divisadero corridor), which feature hit games of the '90s and '00s, as well as attractions like pinball, pool, air hockey and Skee-ball. Drinks are sold at both — all you need is your Mortal Kombat cheat codes.

If you're more of a real-life gamer, head to Spin SF, where aspiring table tennis pros go head-to-head on a daily basis (but particularly on Fridays). It also serves a full food menu and has a full bar. It's large enough for you to bring your friends but friendly enough for you to challenge a stranger to a paddle duel if you arrive stag.

Dandelion Chocolate doesindeed offer tours and educational classes, though if you actually book one you might be too distracted by the heavenly smells to absorb any pertinent information about chocolate making. It's no matter — there is a chocolate tasting component involved in classes at the Mission District chocolaterie, and if you book the "Chocolate 201" course ($150), you'll actually get to make your own batch of cocoa nibs.

One of San Francisco's best worst-kept secrets is the existence of the Church of 8 Wheels, a weekly rollerskating party in the Mission inside a converted church. The rink only opens on Fridays and Saturdays — weekday planners are out of luck here — but when it does, its DJ spins era-appropriate tunes: funk. Some sessions are open to all-ages, but the late-night events, which start at 8 p.m. on Fridays and 7 p.m. on Saturdays are for the 18-and-up crowd.

When the rain starts falling, the bars around the city with fireplaces begin to look rather inviting. There are spots like Big 4 (pictured, Nob Hill), Riptide (Sunset), Zeki's (Nob Hill) and Laureate (Laurel Heights), that channel the feel of a swanky living room or lodge, and make for a nice place to perch and get wrapped up in a book.

Rain and stress can make for one gnarly mood, but there's one easy cure: kittens. KitTea, the Hayes Valley cat cafe that exists with the goal of "saving cats and alleviating stress," is open to anyone who wants to grab a "Cat Lounge Ticket" ($15-$25 depending on the day) to meet the place's furry residents while sipping on coffee or tea. Purchasing tickets in advance is not required — meaning impurropmptu visits are okay — but they do recommend booking at least a day or two in advance.

If money is no object, order IfOnly's Flower Workshop class and head down to the San Francisco Flower Mart to learn about the art of curating floral bouquets. After a tour with a florist, you'll "learn how to prepare flowers for longevity in bouquets, choose the right vessel to compliment your flowers, and discover the importance of color and texture in floral design."

San Francisco's best culinary establishments are often the city's priciest, but Feastly allows guests to dine on a home-cooked meal prepared by a professional chef. Pop-up dining experiences, taking place in event spaces and private homes, might include multiple-course meals or family-style feasts, and introduce you to new people in the process.

Leatherworking, knitting, home brewing, sewing, woodworking, chocolate making and even "water marbling" — this "DIY with attitude" instruction space can teach you to do just about any craft worth learning. The Workshop, headquartered in NoPa (with satellite classes around the city) generally has at least one class scheduled every day, with up to five or six on Saturdays. Prices vary based on the materials and time — see the schedule here.